Crystal holder



9 1947. w. E. KUENSTLER 2,429,414

CRYSTAL HOLDER Filed Aug. 21, 1945 INVENTOR.

- Patented Oct. 21, 1947 UNITED A STATES PATENT OFFICE".

'WalterE. Kuenstler, Cliii'side Park, N. J.

Application August 21, 1945, Serial No. 611,761

Thi invention relates to crystals of the character employed in radio work, such as crystals of quartz, tourmaline, or other piezo-electric material, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved mounting and. housing means of superior construction for crystals of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crystal holder with means by which the crystal may be readily placed in circuit by the simple insertion of the holder in a jack of standard con- 13 Claims. (Cl. 171-327) carried out, whereby the placement of a crystal in a circuit is merely a matter of inserting the plug carried by the holder in a conventional jack, thus greatly facilitating changing crystals in a circuit when necessary, and having numerous other advantages clearly apparent to those skilled in this art.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein severalembodiments of the invention are shown, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a crystal holder constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken at right angles to that of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a Side elevation of the holder; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fi 5 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the invention, wherein the casing of the holder is largely composed of metal; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of still another embodiment, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs, 1 to 4 inclusive, the body of the casing or container for the crystal and its associated elements, is shown as consisting of a base portion or bottom member 2, preferably in the form of a molded, recessed block. A cover member or top I telescopically fits over the base portion, the two parts I and 2 co-operating in forming an enclosure-for the crystal 8 and its associated elements to be hereinafter described. The body of the two part container is preferably composed of insulating material such as glass, or any of the other plastic insulating materials suitable for the purpose. A metal outside casing or enclosure extendin over and enclosing theinside insulatin casing, and not shown in this embodiment of the invention, may be used, if desired.

Preferably, but not necessarily, formed integrally with the base or bottom portion 2 of the container, is a plug portion 3 of cylindrical form and of a diameter enabling it to be received in a standard Jack. Said plug portion 3 is of insulating material and is preferably located centrally of the base portion 2. A head 4 is located at the free end of the plug 3, said head forming a continuation of the plug 3 and being made of metal or other conducting material. The head I is rounded to facilitate its insertion in a standard jack and is formed with an annular groove 5 which is engaged by the usual spring of the jack in the conventional manner to establish electrical contact with the head and to retain the plug portion in the jack. Formed integrally with the head 4 and extending axially through the plug portion 3 and thus constituting a core for the same, is a stem 0 which has its end remote from the head 4 disposed within the recess Hi within the container.

At ii is shown a metallic sleeve which surrounds a portion of the plug 3 and is embedded therein to an extent as to permit the face portion of the sleeve to lie flush with the face of the plug 3. It will be noted that the sleeve ii is located remotely from the head 4 so that a portion of the insulated body of the plug 3 is interposed betweenthe sleeve i i and the head 4 and these parts are thus insulated from one another.

Formed integrally with the metallic sleeve ii and extending therefrom, is a tongue i2 of resilient nature, said tongue extending into the recess ill. The crystal 8 of conventional wafer form, is located between the stem 6 and tongue i2 and is clamped between these parts, the resilience thereof, and particularly that of the tongue l2, causing the crystal to be firmly gripped betweensald tongue and the stem 6, The stem 6 is provided with a projection I having a knifeedge which engages against one face of the crystal, and the tongue I 2 is provided with a knifeedged projection l3 engaging against the opposite face of the crystal 8. The crystal 8, held .as just described, is of the so-called plated" type. That is to say, metallic electrode surfaces are provided on the opposite faces of the crystal by means of a thin metallic coating or plating applied to each of said faces, as distinguished from the standard separate metal plates between 3 which a crystal is customarily sandwiched. Thus, when herein referring to electrodes I wish to be understood as meaning either the plated coatings applied to the racesof the crystal, or to separate metallic plates between which the crystal is positioned, for in the present inventlon either type may be used with complete satisfaction.

The arrangement described is that one of the coated faces, or that indicated at 9, is in electrical contact with the stem 5, while the opposite face 44 of the crystal is in electrical contact with the tongue H. The terminal for the stem 6 is the head t, while the terminal for the tongue I?! is the sleeve ll, these parts 4 and II being located on and forming a part of the plug 3, but are insulated from one another by the body of the plug. When the plug portion 3 is inserted in a jack, one portion of the Jack will engage and make electrical contact with the sleeve H, while another portion of the jack will engage and make electrical contact with the grooved portion 5 of the head 4. With this arrangement the crystal can be instantly inserted in and removed from a suitable circuit, or crystals in a circuit may be shifted or changed very speedily whenever desired.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the body of the holder includes a domeshaped metallic casing member 2| which fits around and is secured to the periphery of the base or bottom member 2, the latter member being composed of insulating material and being provided with a metallic flange 22 extending around its periphery and to which the member 2| is secured by being soldered thereto or attached in any other suitable manner. The flange 22 has an lnturhed portion 23 embedded or anchored in the base 2 as clearly seen in the drawing.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the crystal 8 is disposed horizontally in a recess 40 formed in the cup-shaped base portion 2 of the holder. The crystal 8, shown as being of the plated type, is confined between the two arched spring plates 28 and 29. The spring plate 29, which establishes electrical contact with one of the plated races of the crystal, rests against the end of the stem 6 which projects into the recess 40. The spring plate 28 is in contact with a metallic cover member 26 which not only establishes electrical contact with the spring plate 28 and thus with the plated face of the crystal against which said spring plate rests, but also serves to compress the spring plates 28 and 29, causing them to firmly hold the crystal between them, with the spring plate 29 held firmly against the end of the stem 6.

A cup-shaped metallic member 24 extends around the periphery and the bottom of the base member 2, and it is provided with a sleeve 25, corresponding in shape and function to the sleeve II previously described. The flange 21 on the cover member 26 overlies the side wall of the member 24 and is secured thereto as by solderlng. Thus, the sleeve 25 is electrically connected to one of the coated faces of the crystal 8, while the head 4 is electrically connected to the opposite face of the crystal.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawing, the casing is shown as being composed of two telescoping casing elements l and 2 of insulating material. In this embodiment of the invention'the crystal is shown at 36 and is sandwiched between separate metallic plateelectrodes 31 and 33. The electrode 31 rests against the end of the stem 6 while an arched plate spring 34 rests against the electrode 38, the

spring beingiirmly held against said electrode by means of a metal plate 35 that is confined between the spring plate 34 and the cover member I of the container. A sleeve 33 surrounds and is embedded in the plug portion 3, as described in connection with the sleeves l I and 25, said sleeve 33 being in the form of a spider and having outwardly and upwardly extending arms 3| which have turned-over end portions 32 in contact with the plate 35, as clearly seen in Fig. '7. This arrangement is such that thesleeve 33 establishes electrical contact through its arms 3| with the plate 35 which electrically contacts with the electrode 38 through. the spring plate 34. Electrode 31 is electrically connected to the head 4 through its contact with the stem 8.

In the various embodiments of the invention, a single plug connecting-means is provided by which the crystal may be inserted in a circuit by simply placing it in a lack wired into the circuit. Correct insertion of the crystal in the circuit is thus always insured and a speedy change of a crystal is greatly facilitated.

While I have shown several embodiments of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, as many variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In herein referring to the coated or plated surfaces of the crystal as electrodes" I wish to be understood as meaning either such plated surfaces or any other metallic or conducting media disposed againstor connected to the opposite faces of the crystal. It will also be understood that the container or casing herein disclosed may be made in various shapes, and in those instances wherein it is not shown as enclosed in an outside metallic enclosure, it is to be understood that such an enclosure might be used, or the container constructed in numerous other ways to meet climatic or other requirements.

What I claim is:

l. A crystal holder or the like comprising, a container including a section of insulating material provided with a plug extension, said extension having a core of conducting material terminating in a head at one end of the plug extension, a crystal and a pair of electrodes within the container, said core being electrically connected to one of the electrodes, a connection to the second electrode, the latter connection including a sleeve portionsurrounding a part of the plug extension and spaced and electrically insulated from the core thereof.

2. A crystal holder or the like comprising, a container including a base of insulation having a plug portion, a metallic sleeve surrounding a part of said plug portioma metallic head onsaid plug portion, the head being spaced from the sleeve, the sleeve having an extension located within the container, the head having an extension also located within the container, and a crystal contained within the container and having electrode portions respectively electrically connected to the extensions from the sleeve and head.

3. In a crystal holder or the like, a container formed with an integral plug portion of insulating'material, said plug having a metallic head at one end, a stem extending from said head through thecenter of the plug portion and into the container, a metallic sleeve surrounding the plug portion at a point remote from the head, said sleeve having an extension projecting into the interior of the container, a. crystal and electrodes located within the container, said crystal and electrodes being disposed between the stem and the extensionwhereby one of the electrodes is electrically connected to the stem and the other electrode is electrically connected to the extension.

4. A crystal holder as provided for in claim 3, and wherein the electrodes consist of metallic coatings applied to the opposite faces of the crystal and the extension from the sleeve is a substantially resilient tongue.

5. In a crystal holder, a container including a block of insulation formed with a cylindrical plug extension of insulating material, a stem extending axially through said plug extension and having a metallic head located at the free end of the plug and forming a continuation of the plug, a

metallic sleeve surrounding a portion of the plug I and exposed on the outside of the plug for a portion only of its length, said sleeve being spaced and insulated from the head, the sleeve being provided with a resilient tongue portion extending through the block and projecting into the interior of the container, and a crystal and electrodes located in the container, the electrodes being respectively electrically connected to the stem and to the resilient tongue portion.

6. In a crystal holder and the like, a crystal a container having an insulated plug portion extending from it, a metallic head at the free end of the plug portion, said head having a stem extending axially through the plug portion and entering the container to make contact with the face of the crystal located therein, and a metallic part making contact with a second face of the crystal, said metallic part having a portion located in the plug and exposed on the face of the same at a point remote from the head.

'7. In a crystal holder and the like, a container having a body portion of insulating material, said body portion having an integral plug extension of insulating material, a metallic head at one end of the plug extension, said head having an annular groove for the reception of a portion of a jack, a stem extending from the head and disposed axially through the plug and having an inner end located within and surrounded by the container, a crystal within the container having one of its faces in electrical contact with the inner end of the stem, a metallic sleeve embedded in the body portion and embracing a part of the plug at a distance from the head, said sleeve having a resilient tongue portion projecting through a part of the body portion and having its inner end located within the container, the second face of the crystal being electrically connected to said resilient tongue. a

8. In a crystal holder and the like, a container having a body of insulating material formed with a recess, a crystal located in said recess, a pair of spring plates between which thev crystal is sandwiched, a plug portion.of insulation extending from the body, a stem extending through the plug, said stem having one end terminating in a head at one end of the plug and having its other end located in the recess and in contact with one of the spring plates, the container including a metallic covering, a portion of said covering bein in contact with the second spring plate, and said v 6 covering having an extension embedded in the plug and exposed on the face of the same and spaced from the head at the end of the plug.

9. In a crystal holder as provided for in claim 8, wherein the extension from the covering is in the form of a metallic sleeve extending around a portion only of the plug.

10. In a crystal holder, a container having a body enclosing a crystal, a plug of insulating material projecting from the body, a metallic sleeve surrounding a part of the plug and exposed on the face of the same, tongues extending from the sleeve, a stem extending through the plug and located within and spaced from the sleeve, said stem having one end electrically connected to one face of the crystaland having its other end exposed at the end of the plug, and a plate located in the container and maintained in contact with the tongues, said plate being electrically connected to the second face of the crystal.

11. In a crystal holder, a container in which is located a crystal and electrodes, a single plug extending from the container and having spaced conductors located on it, one of said conductors constituting an extremity on the plug and being provided with an annular retaining groove, and connections from the electrodes to said conductors.

12. In a crystal holder, a container in which is located a plated crystal, a single plug projecting from the container and having-at least two spaced conductors located on it, one of said conductors consisting of a rounded knob-like termination at the end of the plug and being provided with an annular groove in it, and connections from the plate surfaces of the crystal to the conductors.

13. In a crystal holder and the like, a container within which a crystal is housed, said container having an insulated plug portion extending from it, a metallic head at the free end of the plug provided with an annular groove by which the plug is engaged to retain it in a receptacle, said head having a stem extending axially through the plug portion and entering the container to make contact with a face of a crystal located in the container, and a metallic part making contact with the. second face of the crystal, said metallic part having a portion forming a part of the plug and exposed on the face of the plug at a point remote from the head thereon.

WALTER E. KUENS'ILER.

nnrnnnncas crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number, Name Date 1,161,194 Cook Nov. 23, 1915 1,550,306 Austin Aug. 18, 1925 1,869,013 Nowosielski, May 8. 1928 1,669,042 Cromartie et al. y 8, 1928 1,838,735 Tillyer Dec. 15, 1931 2,204,762 Mason June 18, 1940 2,399,919

Garrieon ..May7,1946. 

